The Opioid Epidemic And Opioid-Related Injuries

At Vance & Larson Law Firm, our attorneys have successfully litigated many personal injury and wrongful death claims involving unsafe drugs and improper prescribing of those drugs. In our over 30 years of service to clients in Colorado and other states, we have seen individuals suffer serious illness, long-lasting side effects and death because of drug and prescription negligence. We believe that innocent victims are entitled to justice to help rectify the wrong done to them.

How The Epidemic Began

In 1996, Purdue Pharma unveiled OxyContin and made $48 million in sales. It sent out salespeople in droves, incentivizing them with bonuses for sales. By 2000, Purdue Pharma had $1.1 billion in OxyContin sales. By 2005, that number had risen to $3.1 billion.

The formulation of OxyContin was based on a delayed release of oxycodone, which the company claimed would decrease narcotic highs and thereby have a lower incidence of addiction and abuse. But when crushed, then swallowed, snorted or injected, the new drug provided a cleaner, cheaper high than heroin, and insurance covered it. When tolerance levels went up, that wasn't enough to keep patients content. So in 2015, along came fentanyl. It was much more potent than OxyContin or hydrocodone. When doctors become concerned about addiction, it is too late. But they try to cover themselves by cutting off their patients cold turkey instead of weaning them off the addiction. The result: They turn to heroin on the street from a pill dealer.

No matter what the pharmaceutical industry does to create and market opioids, it requires a physician to prescribe them. The physician is the gatekeeper to giving these addictive drugs to patients. They should be extremely careful not to introduce opioids to patients with addictive propensities or a history of addiction.

What You Can Do

If you have been injured by a prescription drug or improper prescribing, you will need an attorney with the skill and resources to sue negligent physicians or pharma companies and bureaucratic insurance adjusters. Choosing a law firm with solid personal injury experience and committed resources is critical to helping you receive the maximum compensation available. Financial compensation can mean the difference between a quality life and a life of economic hardship.

At Vance & Larson Law Firm, we provide the personal service and results you deserve. For over 30 years, we have been serving clients who have suffered injuries as the result of others' negligence. Our personal injury attorneys provide tough and aggressive representation aimed at moving your case forward and obtaining full compensation for your injuries.

Act Quickly To Protect Your Rights

If you feel that your injury or the death of loved one is due to negligent prescribing of opioid narcotics or other prescription drugs, you may be entitled to file a personal injury, product liability or wrongful death claim. There are mandatory time limits for filing lawsuits, so act quickly or you may forever lose your right to make a claim.

Call Vance & Larson Law Firm for a free initial consultation to discuss your case and your rights under the law. We will vigorously pursue the maximum allowable compensation. You can count on our honest evaluation of your claim, the law and our experience with personal injury cases.

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